Flat knitting machine



May 30, 1933. w. HEINITZ FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 27, 1930 Waldemar f/ez'mfz %%m Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE WOLDEMAR EEINITZ, OF CHEMNITZ, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO SCH UBEBT & SALZEIR MASCHINENFABRIK, AKIIENGESELLSGHAFT, OF CHEMNITZ, GERMANY FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Application filed June 27, 1930, Serial No. 464,293, and in Germany July 8, 1929.

My invention relates to flat knitting machines. It is an object of my invention to provide means for the reliable setting-on of selvedge loops on such machines.

The formation of set-on selvedgeloops on 'flat knitting machines in which the thread guide is arranged above the sinkers, has been, suggested heretofore only in connection with the normal high jack sinkers and low dividing sinkers.

In order to form selvedge loops in a reliable manner the thread guide was placed v so low as not to interfere with the advancing lower dividing sinkers. The thread is now relia'ble engaged by the higher jack sinkers but the thread guide had to be arrested above the dividing sinkers which limits the machine to the setting-on on two needle hooks per loop. However, such loops are unsuitable on account of their open ladderlike edges.

It has been attempted to place the thread.

guide so high as not to interfere with the jack sinkers. By these means, loops can be set-onon a single needle hook but with the thread guide in this elevated position the angle at which the thread is conducted to the adjacent jack sinker, when the thread guide is above a dividing sinker, is more unfavourable than with the thread guide in a lower position, and becomes still more unfavourable when the thread is transferred from the thread guide when it is above a jack sinker, to the adjacent lower dividing sinker. The thread is often transferred to the wrong side or is not engaged at all by the dividing sinker.

The present invention eliminates these drawbacks and permits to obtain suitable ielvkage loops by settingon a single needle According to my invention the jack and the dividing sinkers are arranged with their upper edges at the same level, with the thread gulde in the favourable position corresponding to the normal lower dividing sinkersr s now all sinkers are equally high the thread! is reliably presented to all of them, and there is no interference with their advancing.

In order to permit unobstructed movement of the sinkers notwithstanding the low position of the thread'guide, various means may be provided, as will be described. For instance, the thread guide may be recessed at its lower end so that the sinkers move freely in the recess, while the thread leaves the thread guide at a point below the common upper edge of the sinkers, or the thread guide may be built up from several parts, with not less than one of them projecting below such level.

The important point is that thethread guide should be in the same favourable lower position as with jack and dividing sinkers of different height, but at the same time should not interfere with any of the advancing sinkers.

In the drawing afiixed to this specification and forming part thereof two types ofthread guides are illustrated diagrammatically by way of example.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a partly sectional elevation of athread guide which is recessed at its lower end, and five jack and dividing sinkers,

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the thread guide and the sinkers, viewed from the left.

in Fig. 1,

Fig. "3 is an elevation of a built-up thread guide with five sinkers, and F Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV in Referring now to the drawing, 1 and '2 are the jack and the dividing sinkers, re-

spectively, which are arranged in alternating relation, with their thread seats at 3, 4.

is the thread guide, 5 is a holder for the thread guide, and 6 is the thread.

. Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the thread guide 4 is recessed at its lower end 7 so that its sides are at a lower level than the upper edge of the sinkers. When the thread guide 4 has arrived at the end of its path, and the last sinkers are advanced, the sinker which is within reach'of the thread guide is free to advance as far as the sinking point. As will appear from Fig. 1 the thread leaves the guide below the common upper ed e of the sinkers so that the thread is reliably engaged by the adjacent sinker.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the lower end 8 of the thread guide 4 is cut straight and arranged above the upper edges of the sinkers 1, 2 but two ears or flaps 9 and 10 are provided at either side of the thread guide which project below the level of'the upper edges of the sinkers.

From the foregoing, it will appear that the thread guide I is positioned above the common level of the sinkers, but is so constructed that the thread will be delivered be low the upper edge of said sinkers. Because of this feature, the thread is properly presented to the sinkers or assured engagement thereby, and the possibilities of the thread riding over the sinkers eliminated. Also, the construction permits to stop the guide over any sinker indifferently, without fear of interference, since the advancing sinkers are free to move due to the recessed portion of the guide, which portion receives or accommodates the upper edge of said sinkers. Of course, it will be understood that in operation, the working parts of the machine are timed for the suitable stoppage of the guide centrallv of the sinkers as Well'as for accurate needle movements or variations of yarn traversed.

By using my improved device, it will be appreciated that the necessity of utilizing sinkers having their upper forward edge cut away to clear the guide, are obviated, thus permitting to position all the sinkers at a same and uniform level, which in itself, as hereinbefore stated, possesses important advantages.

I Wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and dsscribed for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

In the claims atfixed to this specification no selection of any particular modification of the invention is intended to the exclusion of other modifications thereof and the right to subsequently make claim to any modification not covered by these claims is expressly reserved.

I claim 1. In a flat knitting machine a set of jack and dividing sinkers with their upper edges at the same level, and a thread guide arranged above said sinkers, and recessed 

